Men of Hidden Justice
Because love can bleed into the darkest heart
I found her when I least expected.
I should have let her go, but I couldn’t.
My world is too dangerous for her. But without her life has no meaning.
For the first time in my life, I am taking what I want – consequences be damned.
| Title: | Second-in-Command |
| Author: | Melanie Moreland |
| Narrator(s): | John Lane Maxine Mitchell |
| Series: | Men of Hidden Justice (Book 2) |
| Pages: | 212 / 4 hrs, 35 minutes |
| Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Insta-Love / Lust |
| Point of View: | First Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Narration Type: | Dual |
| Location: | Toronto, Canada |
| HEA: | ✔ |
| Release Date: | 11th November, 2021 |
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A deliciously satisfying listen
Second-in-Command follows Marcus who we first met in the first book in the Hidden Justice series, The Boss. This book does stand completely alone and in this story, Marcus himself is now the boss of the secret, vigilante type organisation.
Marcus is a deliciously grumpy, scowly hero which is even more delicious because he’s working for a good cause and is ultimately a very good man. I loved how intense he was and how focused and yet when he was with Missy he was gentle and caring. It may sound odd but I enjoyed seeing Marcus lose control around and about Missy. It was never really a control or power thing as Missy met Marcus toe to toe which was so delicious. The perfect pairing.
Marcus is brought to life by the delightful tones of John Lane – narrator for all the Melanie Moreland books I’ve listened to so far. With that said, he manages to bring a different feel to every one of the heroes he’s voiced, and as soon as he started talking, I believed him to be Marcus and enjoyed his performance immensely. Extra points for his ability to portray Missy’s voice in such a way that I genuinely forgot I was listening to a single voice and not two people have a conversation.
I liked Missy a lot even if I (thankfully) couldn’t understand exactly what she was going through. She started off quite downtrodden and scared but even then, her spark still shone through. As she grew in strength and healed, she got really feisty and I loved that she stood up to Marcus. She was still vulnerable enough that I felt she was a layered and relatable character. I was rooting for her the whole time.
“…[I] was absorbed in the story from the first.”
Maxine Mitchell takes on the role of Missy and again, I thought she was perfect for the role. She gives us vulnerability without ever sounding weak. I also love the way Ms Mitchell really ‘acts’ the book out. For example, if the character’s voice is said to shake, she’ll read it in a shaky voice. I’ve noticed that doesn’t always happen with some audiobooks/narrators, so it’s something I’ve come to really appreciate.
As I mentioned, Marcus and Missy were really a great pairing and a great team in general. I loved that in her own way Missy managed to rile Marcus just as much as he did her. They had an effortless chemistry and I adored the seamless transition from strangers, to hero and victim, to lovers and then something more. The sex was hot (especially the grumpy sex) but the sweet and tender moments, especially where Marcus did thoughtful things for Missy, were extra sugary and made my heart happy.
There is a more difficult and disturbing storyline that helps to drive the story forward. While it’s uncomfortable to think about and some of the details are upsetting, it’s never gratuitous, never overly in-depth and things always work out in the end. In the end, this is the story of Marcus and Missy and that’s what the main focus of the book is. Anything else is just a bonus.
I hugely enjoyed this tale and was absorbed in the story from the first. Since I’ve previously read the ebook, I really like that I can sit back and just let the story take over, and that I notice little details I may have missed, or get a different perspective of certain things based on how the narrators read the lines.
Ms Moreland has an amazing gift to make you fall in love with her characters and make you feel like they are now your own, telling their story just for you, the reader; Our two narrators then bring life to these characters and bring you a great audiobook experience. Whether this will be your first audiobook of Ms Moreland’s, or you’re a devoted fan, you will not be disappointed with this love story with a little bit extra. 5 stars.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review *
New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
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Men of Hidden Justice
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